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Coral snake bites and envenomation in children: a case series

Jun Sasaki1, Paul A Khalil, Madhuradhar Chegondi

  • 1From the Division of Critical Care Medicine, Miami Children's Hospital, Miami, FL.

Pediatric Emergency Care
|April 4, 2014
PubMed

Insights

Coral snake bites in children require pediatric intensive care admission. Specialized venom response teams are crucial for managing envenomation and providing antivenom.

Area of Science:

  • Herpetology
  • Toxicology
  • Pediatric Intensive Care

Background:

  • North America has two venomous snake families: Crotalinae (pit vipers) and Elapidae (coral snakes).
  • Limited recent literature exists on the clinical course and management of coral snake envenomation in children.

Observation:

  • A case series identified four children with coral snake bites, with two incidents involving provocation.
  • Three patients received antivenom, with a regional venom response team consulted for guidance and supply.
  • One child experienced prolonged hospitalization due to respiratory failure, bulbar palsy, and ataxia.

Findings:

  • All pediatric patients in the case series survived and were discharged.
  • Eastern coral snake bites necessitate pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) admission.

Implications:

  • Regional or national venom response teams are valuable resources for expert advice and antivenom access.
  • Prompt medical intervention and specialized care are critical for managing coral snake envenomation in pediatric patients.
Abstract

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